Impacted Wisdom Teeth

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Definition:
Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don't have enough room to emerge or develop normally.Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth (erupt). Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth-two on the top, two on the bottom.Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they're hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are.

Symptoms:
Impacted wisdom teeth don't always cause symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms: Red or swollen gums, Tender or bleeding gums, Jaw pain, Swelling around the jaw, Bad breath, An unpleasant taste in your mouth, Difficulty opening your mouth.
Treatment:
You can sometimes relieve minor irritation by rinsing with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water). Over-the-counter pain relievers also may help. If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or interferes with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is to take it out (Extraction).In some cases, an infection requires antibiotics.Oral and maxillofacial surgeon is done to remove teh tooth.

Statistics
More than 11 million patient days of “standard discomfort or disability”—pain, swelling, bruising, and malaise—result postoperatively, and more than 11000 people suffer permanent paresthesia—numbness of the lip, tongue, and cheek—as a consequence of nerve injury during the surgery.